Zoo Boise Presents Dr. Jane Goodall   

        Zoo Boise welcomes Dr. Jane Goodall for two public events on Thursday, April 9, in Boise.  A world-renowned primatologist, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Dr. Goodall speaks of hope throughout the world.  The philosophy of her Roots & Shoots youth organization is that "every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, and every individual makes a difference."

        Dr. Goodall will appear at 5pm at Zoo Boise; this reception is limited to 60 guests and will be the only opportunity to speak one-on-one with Dr. Goodall.  Tickets are $500 each and include entry to the reception, premier seating at the public lecture, and a signed copy of one of Dr. Goodall's books.  For tickets to this event, contact Liz Littman at 384-4125, ext. 202, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

        The same evening, Dr. Goodall will speak at 7pm at Qwest Arena.  Tickets range from $10 to $50 plus a processing fee, and can be purchased at the Qwest Arena Box Office, www.qwestarenaidaho.com, or by calling 331-TIXS.  Tickets may also be purchased at Zoo Boise, during business hours, without a processing fee.

        Dr. Goodall will speak about her work in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania where nearly 50 years ago, she began studying our closest relative - the chimpanzee.  She will also speak about the innovative programs of the Jane Goodall Institute, including Roots & Shoots, the humanitarian and environmental program for young people of all ages that she created in 1991.  Now in over 100 countries worldwide, Roots & Shoots gives young people the tools to make a positive difference in society.  As a U.N. Messenger of Peace, Dr. Goodall will share her reasons for hope in these complex times and offer ways in which every individual can make a difference every day.  

Cookbook for Kids   

            Salad People and More Real Recipes by award-winning author/illustrator Mollie Katzen (Tricycle Press) is the anticipated sequel to her classic Pretend Soup.  Katzen works her magic with 20 new, child-tested recipes, including such delicacies as Counting Soup, Chewy Energy Circles, and Polka Dot Rice.  Each illustrated recipe offers the child chef the opportunity to count, measure, mix, assemble, and most important, have fun.  Designed as do-together projects - with the child as chef and the adult as assistant - these kitchen adventures will give children confidence in their cooking skills and inspire a life-long healthy relationship with food.

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22   

            Earth Day Network, earthday.net, has come out with a list of suggestions for students, teachers, and parents to green their schools.  Use these activities to help your community, and school, go green for Earth Day.

• Teachers can have students patrol to check that lights are off in vacant rooms, and make signs or stickers such as "Flip the switch when leaving!" as a reminder to turn off lights.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED bulbs and have students compute energy savings.
• Keep air vents clear and up to date, and work with custodians to fix drafty rooms; ensure that furnace filters are cleaned or replaced often.
• Make sure computers are programmed to enter "sleep" mode when inactive, and avoid screen savers. Turn off computers when the day ends.
• Urge students or faculty to start a recycling program for the school - if you already have one, brainstorm how to make it better and reduce your school's carbon footprint even more.
• Organize a campaign to get healthy, local food served in your cafeteria - and reduce the presence of junk food, soda, and other unhealthy options.
• Urge your school to invest in reusable utensils, trays, and dishes in the cafeteria.
• Inquire about non-toxic cleaning products and recyclable materials. Also find out what pesticides are sprayed on school grounds.
• Investigate the possibility of creating a green roof for your school. A green roof can help regulate your school's temperature and save money on utilities, in addition to providing an exciting educational tool.

Planning Family Time   

                        Family trips are the most popular form of travel, and recent research finds the current trend of multigenerational and family-friendly getaways will continue to grow.  To meet the need for an authoritative, creative, and practical travel planner, National Geographic and parenting expert Susan Magsamen have joined to create this informative guide.  Chock-full of dozens of "10 best" lists, from ice cream spots to roller coasters and music festivals to protected habitats, The 10 Best of Everything Families (National Geographic Books) is a great resource for planning a week-long vacation, a cross-country trip, or a short getaway close to home.

                The eight chapters are packed with practical travel information, itineraries, maps, book suggestions, and more.  Numerous sidebars tell how to prepare for a trip, list what to take, and share advice from parents and experts.  Organized regionally and thematically, from the local (best neighborhood parks and playgrounds, movie theaters, markets) to the national (best campgrounds, living history experiences, extreme adventure trips) to the international (itineraries for Hong Kong, London, Cape Town, and Moscow), this comprehensive and entertaining guide will inspire families to plan the perfect trip together.

Join Our Parent-TEEN Blog  

            If you want to continue the same great relationships you have with your children when they're teens, then join

in on the Parenting-TEEN Blog at www.treasurevalleyteen.com and "let's talk!"  Share your own advice, experience, and insight with other parents, and read Family magazine publisher Liz Buckingham's weekly blog, book reviews, timely tips, and news on parenting today's teen. 

Summer Camp and Activities

        Another highlight of the day is the Treasure Valley Family Magazine Cover Kids Search.  Bring your child, with a candid photo and a completed registration form (available on page 67 of this issue), to the Summer Camp and Activities Fair and register to be a Cover Kid!  Judging and selection will be divided into three groups: 0-24 months (for Treasure Valley Baby), 2-6 years, and 7-12 years (for Family and Resources).  Winners will be notified by mail by ­­­­­­­­­­­­June 12, 2009.  There will be a $10 entry fee per child, with net proceeds going to Idaho Youth Ranch. 

Worlds Connect @ Your Library   

        Celebrate National Library Week, April 12-18!  Libraries build communities, providing opportunities for all ages.  Weekly story times engage even the youngest children, monthly teen groups allow young adults to share in a love of books, computers provide internet access for those who may not otherwise have it, not to mention the wealth of knowledge that library staff provides.  Your library card allows you to check out materials from books to DVDs and video games to Kidpacks.  Visit your favorite local library during National Library Week and see what they have to offer.  For local library contact information, click here.

2009 National Art Contest

     The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) invites children to enter a national art contest with a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C., this year.  The contest is open to boys and girls in three groups, grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, and the theme is Protecting Children from Tobacco Smoke. 

        "There are still far too many young people who smoke and many pick up this deadly habit while they are at school," warns AAP President David Tayloe, Jr, M.D., FAAP.  "This is an opportunity for children to exercise their creative side to alert other children - and parents - to the dangers of tobacco and second-hand smoke."

        To enter, children should submit an original piece of artwork to: National Art Contest, American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 NW Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.  Rules, official entry forms, and consent forms must accompany all entries and are available online at aap.org/artcontest.  Entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2009.